Community Development Clinic

Starting Fall 2009, the Community Development Clinic will be offered as a one-semester Clinic only.

Faculty: James J. Kelly, Jr. and Kia Dennis

Law student in Law Clinic class

Provides a wide variety of transactional legal services to and advocacy for historically under-served communities in Baltimore City. Students assist community associations, non-profit organizations, and small business owners with the legal aspects of formation, operations and financing, land use, real estate acquisition and other matters.

Representative projects include:

  • Representing a community association, for a neighborhood facing redevelopment by the use of eminent domain, in negotiating a just redevelopment plan
  • Forming a limited liability company that will operate as a mail-order business and counseling the owner and operator on business formation and corporate maintenance
  • Drafting form documents, including the customer contract and subcontractor agreement, for a small business to use with its clients and vendors.
  • Drafting and advocating for a Md. General Assembly bill that would remove a legal impediment to the development of permanently affordable homeownership opportunities in Maryland
  • Conducting due diligence and other legal representation for a nonprofit organization acquiring vacant land from the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore
  • Incorporating and seeking IRS recognition of tax-exempt status for a charitable organization that collects donated formal dresses to provide female high school students with prom dresses

Policies & Procedures

The Community Development Clinic selects its students through the lottery process.